Page 4724 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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Mr De Domenico: Madam Speaker, in deference to you I will - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr De Domenico: No, hang on. I will say that - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: No, you have no chance to debate, Mr De Domenico.
Mr De Domenico: I will withdraw - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr De Domenico: I will withdraw the word "fraudulent" in terms of the Chief Minister - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you.
Mr De Domenico: But not in terms of the Government she represents or the party she represents.
MADAM SPEAKER: I did not ask you to do that.
Legislative Assembly - Number of Members
MR STEVENSON: Madam Speaker, my question is also to the Chief Minister. This morning's Canberra Times reported that yesterday the Commonwealth Parliament passed the Arts, Environment and Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 1993 which has changes "aimed at bringing the ACT's degree of self-government closer to that of the Northern Territory". The article goes on to say:
Under the changes the ACT Assembly will decide the number of its members ...
On 29 September the paper had already reported the same thing, as follows:
The Assembly will now have the power to decide the number of its members ...
As the Bill does not do that, would the Chief Minister once and for all inform the Assembly as to whether or not you will have the power to increase or decrease its numbers under that legislation?
MS FOLLETT: To answer the first part of Mr Stevenson's question first, it is just possible that the earlier report in the Canberra Times was slightly premature. Madam Speaker, I wrote to members not so long ago outlining to them all of the changes that I believed were to be brought about by changes in legislation within the Federal Parliament. Part of those changes included the Assembly's ability to vary its numbers. If it is correct, as the paper has reported, that those legislative changes have now passed through the House of Representatives, it is obviously within the province of this Assembly to make those changes. But it is certainly not a matter for the Government to do it. It is a matter for the Assembly. Madam Speaker, I am not aware of any moves - either contemplated or imminent - to make those changes.
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